Between the rain and melting snow, one local city council is concerned about flooding.

Staunton approved a measure Thursday night that would help businesses in the Wharf area protect themselves from rising water.

The grant requires business owners to pay about $6,000, but they receive about $30,000 worth of work.

The work includes elevating air conditioners and electrical services, installing backflow preventers so water will not run back into the sewers, and putting up flood shields.

Several businesses, like the Byer's Street Bistro, have already installed brackets where flood shields can be attached.

In 2003, a flood caused a lot of damage to many of the buildings on the Wharf. There are five businesses left in the Wharf that have not been flood-proofed, but they have all expressed interest in the grant funding.

The city council's approval was just the beginning of the grant process. The grant application is due at the beginning of April.

Then it could be up to 12 months before the money is awarded and construction begins.